ツヤ肌

• Reading: ツヤはだ
• Romaji: tsuya hada
• Kanji breakdown: ツヤ (gloss/sheen) + 肌 (skin) → glossy/dewy skin
• Pronunciation: /tsɯ.ja ha.da/

Meaning

Dewy, glowing skin with a healthy luminous sheen; the opposite of matte skin.

ツヤ肌 refers to skin (or a makeup finish) that has a natural, healthy glow — think dewy, luminous, and fresh-looking rather than powdery or flat. It has been a dominant trend in Japanese and Korean beauty since the late 2010s, contrasting with the previously popular マット肌 (matte skin). The look is achieved through hydrating skincare, liquid foundations, and strategic highlighter placement.

Examples

1. ツヤ肌に仕上げたいから下地はパール系使ってる。 I want a dewy finish so I'm using a pearl-based primer.
2. 最近ツヤ肌が流行りだけど、脂性肌だとテカリとの境界線が難しい。 Dewy skin is trending lately, but if you have oily skin it's hard to tell the difference between glow and grease.
3. ツヤ肌メイクのほうが若く見えるって言うよね。 They say dewy skin makeup makes you look younger.

Usage Guide

Context: beauty, skincare, makeup, beauty counters

Tone: descriptive, beauty-focused

Do Say

• ツヤ肌に見せるファンデーションってどれがいい？ (Which foundation is best for a dewy skin finish?)
• 今日はツヤ肌で仕上げてください。 (Please finish with a dewy look today.)

Don't Say

• 「テカってるよ」はツヤ肌を目指してる人には禁句 (Saying 'you look shiny/oily' is taboo to someone going for ツヤ肌 — they worked hard for that glow)

Common Mistakes

• Confusing ツヤ肌 (intentional dewy finish) with テカリ (unwanted oily shine) — intent and technique are different

Origin & History

From ツヤ (gloss/sheen/luster) + 肌 (skin). The term has been used in beauty contexts for decades but surged in popularity in the late 2010s with the 'glass skin' trend influenced by Korean beauty (K-beauty).

Cultural Context

Era: Late 2010s surge, still dominant trend

Generation: All ages in beauty contexts

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Part of a broader Asian beauty trend alongside Korean 'glass skin' (물광 피부). Essential vocabulary at beauty counters.